Schizophrenia is a mental health problem that can make people think and act strangely. They might also have psychosis. Insomnia, which is when people can’t sleep well, is one of the biggest problems for people with schizophrenia. It’s different from the occasional trouble sleeping that everyone has.
In this blog, you will read about the link between schizophrenia and sleep, what causes sleep problems among persons with schizophrenia, does schizophrenia cause insomnia, is insomnia a symptom of schizophrenia, can insomnia cause schizophrenia, and how to treat insomnia in schizophrenia. If you’re coping with schizophrenia or you are taking care of someone who does, knowledge of this link could similarly go a long way toward enhancing quality of life.
What is Schizophrenia?
It is a long-term mental illness that affects cognitive function and behavior: patients may have symptoms in the form of visions, voices, ideas, behaviors, and emotions, some of which are not real. This affects 1 percent of the population globally and can be very debilitating if not well treated.
There’s a broad spectrum of symptoms associated with schizophrenia, but some of the most common include:
- Hallucinations and Delusions: Perceiving things not there through hearing or vision.
- Disorganized speech or behavior: A person needs help sustaining a conversation by speaking clearly and manifesting some problems with inappropriate social behavior.
- Negative symptoms: Minimally observed motivation, emotional apathy, and avoiding interpersonal contact.
Read More: Myths And Facts About Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia and Sleep: What’s the Connection?
Insomnia and other sleep disorders are common occurrences in patients who are affected by schizophrenia. Of course, sleep disturbances are present in almost every schizophrenic patient and are thus thought to be characteristic features of this disease. It has been estimated that nighttime sleep disturbances are experienced by 30-80% of the communal schizophrenia population.
However, what makes it more complicated is the fact that schizophrenia and insomnia are primarily correlated. Several factors contribute to this relationship:
- Imbalance of Brain Chemicals: Schizophrenia impacts proteins like dopamine and serotonin with a central role in controlling mood and sleep, respectively. These imbalances can affect the body’s circadian rhythm, thus not allowing comfortable sleep at night.
- Medication Side Effects: Most of the antipsychotic drugs used in handling schizophrenia are associated with side effects on sleep patterns. Some may produce drowsiness, and others may create restlessness or insomnia problems for those who take it.
- Psychotic Symptoms: Sometimes hallucinations and delusions can interfere with the ability, or motivation, to unwind enough to get to sleep. Some people may have general anxiety during the night and realize that it is hard for them to relax.
- Stress and Anxiety: Schizophrenia is a complex disorder, and stress or anxiety resulting from the disorder makes it difficult for patients to sleep. Stress, the panic of getting socially unaccepted symptoms, or sickness may add to sleep disturbances.
Insomnia as a Consequence of Schizophrenia
For the human body, sleep is critical to physical and mental health, and for a patient with schizophrenia, inadequate sleep has the potential to deteriorate their condition. Insomnia and sleep deprivation can have several adverse effects on the overall management of schizophrenia:
- Worsening of Symptoms: This usually happens when there is a lack of sleep, as this will precipitate and exacerbate the aspects of hallucination, delusion, and disorganized thought. It can all make it challenging to take on day-to-day tasks and interact with others.
- Emotional Instability: Lack of sleep usually accompanies mood swings, irritability, or even depressing moods leading to depression. Having merely disrupted clients already struggling with feelings of dysfunction, inadequate sleep can significantly exacerbate the condition characterizing schizophrenia.
- Cognitive Impairment: Lack of sleep for many days impacts memory, concentration, and ability to decide. This is a problem for individuals who have schizophrenia because they might already have some level of cognitive disability, and sleep loss only exacerbates this.
- Physical Health Issues: Lack of sleep also puts the immune system under pressure and raises the chances of getting any other more dangerous ailments such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and cardiovascular disorders.
Read More: Insomnia Hallucinations: The Unseen Effects of Sleeplessness
Symptoms of Insomnia in Schizophrenia
The signs of insomnia are not always easy to identify, but if any of the following are present, it may be time to consider addressing sleep issues:
- The inability to fall asleep after having the desire to sleep.
- Such symptoms as getting up several times at night and being unable to return to bed.
- Symptoms such as being anxious or having fidgets during the evening or at night.
- Generally, a person is tired all day but able to wake up earlier.
- Some cannot wake up early in the morning or during the day because they are preoccupied with work and do not sleep at night; instead, they take products that have caffeine or related drinks to help them remain alert during the day.
Therapeutic Approaches to Insomnia in Schizophrenia
Hence, handling insomnia in individuals with schizophrenia cannot be solved by a single solution but with the help of the following strategies. Based on present knowledge, here are some valuable tips that can be implemented to make better sleep quality.
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A constant sleep cycle:
Body clocks adjusting to your internal clock is one discipline that requires great consistency. One way it helps train your brain and body to be sleepy is by having a regular time for going to bed and waking up.
- Create a Relaxing Pre-Bedtime Routine: Avoid using electronics an hour before sleeping, take a warm bath, read a book, listen to soft music, or perform some stretches.
- Avoid Late-Night Stimulants: Avoid products containing caffeine and nicotine or eating large meals before bed, affecting sleep.
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Keep Your Environment as Sleep Friendly as Possible
The environment in which you sleep dramatically affects the quality of your rest. Some changes might be made to the bedroom, significantly increasing the likelihood of falling and staying asleep.
- Dark, Quiet, and Cool: This explains why it’s recommended that people sleep and have a restful night in a quiet and dark room. If you live in a place with loud noises, use earplugs or a noise machine. Cooling the room also improves comfort while sleeping, so it is preferable.
- Comfortable Bed: Make sure your mattress and pillows are comfortable and supportive. A clean and comfy bed will lead to better sleep.
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Medication Management
A few antipsychotic drugs used to treat schizophrenia could lead to insomnia. If you have felt that your medication has interfered with your sleep, you should consult your psychiatrist or the healthcare provider.
- Adjusting Medications: In many cases, your doctor may be able to change the dosages of prescribed drugs or recommend a different medicine with less impact on the sleep cycle.
- Sleep Aids: Occasionally, any sleep-regulating drugs and natural sleep supplements such as melatonin may be used to treat the condition. Only introduce sleeping aid after first seeking the advice of your doctor.
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CBT-I (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia)
CBT-I is a technique of therapy developed and focused on affecting insomnia. It assists an individual in recognizing painful, distorted, and mistaken patterns of thinking about sleep and modifying them.
- Working with a Therapist: CBT-I typically requires that one set up a session with a therapist to deal with the psychological barriers causing sleepless nights. This may entail developing new behaviors to help the patient relax, developing new sleep patterns, or building ways that the patient can handle stress or use deferring techniques when they are harassed by thinking processes that hinder them from sleeping.
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Physical exercises and physical activities
Physical activity is vital for maintaining sleep schedules and preventing anxiety and stress. Simple exercises like walking, yoga, or stretching can do the trick.
- Daytime Activity: The best effort should be made to be active during the day as it will enhance the ability to get a good night’s sleep. But it is recommended that you do not exercise, mainly if it is vigorous exercise, nearest to the time you go to bed.
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Mindfulness
Relaxation therapy is a way of managing an active mind and anxiety or even paranoid symptoms arising from schizophrenia.
- Deep Breathing Exercises: When you take deep breaths, your body receives a message that relaxing is safe. Why not practice deep breathing? You breathe in for 4 seconds, hold your breath for 4 seconds, and breathe out for 4 seconds.
- Progressive Muscle Relaxation: This method involves contracting and relaxing each body muscle, from the feet to the head. Contractions of some muscles are eased while the process relaxes others.
Read More: Bipolar vs Schizophrenia: What’s The Deal With Them?
Conclusion: Control of Sleep in Schizophrenic Patients
Sleep disturbances, especially insomnia, are a significant and disturbing factor experienced by persons with schizophrenia. Guess what? This is not a problem that cannot be addressed. Coping mechanisms in dealing with sleep disturbances include taking proper bedtime, speaking with a doctor about the sleep environment and hormones, and speaking with a doctor about these issues. To regain a good night’s sleep and enhance the quality of life, it is necessary to understand the relationship between schizophrenia and insomnia along with a major query can schizophrenia cause insomnia or not? If you are interested in understanding the connection between schizophrenia and insomnia, then now is the ideal time for you to get connected with the telepsychiatry services of Solid Foundation Psychiatry.